title: Assessment of pathogenic bacteria using periodic actuation.
abstract: A new analytical platform for the assessment of pathogenic bacteria is presented. It is based on a robust technology which is able to amplify the signal to noise ratio providing fast and sensitive detection of target pathogenic bacteria. The system uses a custom made AC electrical impedance analyser to measure, using a lab on a chip platform, the oscillations of magnetically labelled analytes when applying a periodic magnetic field. The concentration of pathogenic Escherichia coli O157:H7 chosen as bacterial model was determined based on the amplitude of the electrical impedance oscillations at a selected AC frequency. The analytical platform provides a limit of detection of 10(2) cells ml(-1), has a fast analysis time, and is amenable for the detection of other target cells. The system has simple design suitable for portability and automated operation.
authors.affiliation: International Centre of Biodynamics, Intrarea Portocalelor Nr. 1B, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Sorin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Polonschii
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gheorghiu
authors.forename: Dumitru
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bratu
authors.forename: Alin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dobre
authors.forename: Eugen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gheorghiu
mesh_terms: D004566:Electrodes; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D056656:Lab-On-A-Chip Devices; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D059346:Magnets / Q000737:chemistry; D008863:Microspheres; D013997:Time Factors